Football - Chelsea to wait on old guard's future

Jose Mourinho insisted Chelsea are in no rush to clarify the futures of captain John Terry, record goalscorer Frank Lampard and England left-back Ashley Cole after what could be the final Stamford Bridge match of the vaunted trio's distinguished Blues careers.

Chelsea's Frank Lampard (left) applauds the fans during a parade of honour after the final whistle (PA Sport)

A blunt performance in a goalless draw with relegation-threatened Norwich saw Chelsea denied the win required to restore them to the top of the standings entering the concluding week of the season.

The players undertook a lap of appreciation afterwards, with tears flowing in what could be Terry, Lampard and Cole's farewell, with their current contracts expiring after next week's match at Cardiff.

"They are with the club on their future," added Mourinho, who says he wants all three to stay.

"Now it's time to wait a little bit. The summer is a long summer for us.

"For the players involved in the World Cup it's a different story, but for us, as a club, it's a long time to be calm and to sit and to discuss and to analyse options and the market and possibilities."

Mourinho preferred to laugh rather than cry after watching his side's slim Premier League title hopes fade further on Sunday as the point saw them concede further ground to Manchester City and Liverpool.

He lamented referee Neil Swarbrick's decision not to award Eden Hazard a penalty when Ryan Bennett swiped wildly at the Belgium forward.

Mourinho rushed to his office in the Stamford Bridge tunnel to confirm his initial suspicions that a spot-kick should have been awarded.

Mourinho said: "I saw (it) in the game, but to confirm I had a quick run to my office and I arrived in time to watch (the replay) and then go back to the dug-out laughing."

Why the laughter? "Because I can't cry."

With his assistant Rui Faria serving a six-match stadium ban following his dismissal against Sunderland and Mourinho facing Football Association disciplinary proceedings of his own, the Portuguese then kept his counsel.

He declined to assess the challenge on Andre Schurrle by Alex Tettey which might also have resulted in a spot-kick or discuss the moment when Norwich were denied by the officials when John Terry clattered Martin Olsson.

Mourinho added: "My assistant is in jail."

In assessing the first season of his second spell, Mourinho made a cryptic reference to the controversial losses to Aston Villa and Sunderland.

"Without festivals it would have been a better season," added Mourinho, who admitted the midweek Champions League exit may have sapped his side's energy levels.